Grip structure



Jan. 22, 1952 B. J. AxToN, JR

GRIP STRUCTURE Filed July 2, 1948 Eea/anida j 19x '0/7, Jr.

Patented Jan. 22V, 1952 golv-Irenl STATE-s .PAT

Gana srrcrvrr Benjamin-.L Anton., Jr., Holyokef Mass., assignertnlAi. G.Spalding & Bross, Ina, GhieQPlimMaS-o;

aicorpancrer-Delaware; l

Y t 1/K This invention relates to improvements in structures employedasgrips or` as foundations for grips for athletic striking imp1ements,particularlyY to such implements as'V rackets such as used in playingsquash, badminton andI tennis and for golf clubs andthe-like'striking`devices.

A` factor in. implements obthisV type: is one of weight and Weightdistribution.. Accordingly,- it is desired'to keepat aminimum theweight-offthe handgrip thereofrw-hile at thelsame timev main- Vtainingsaid-grip` suiflcientlyresilient;V firm and resistant totorsionaleiectsasL tol enable-the user tocontrol the implement when a.strikingforce is applied therebyandproduce accurate 1execu tion of playstherewith.

Grips ory grip structuresheretoforey` used were and sometimes.. coveredvwith leather". ord other simlar4 material. Structures-madeupLof-ftextileor fiberare relatively: heavy-:.andf are not resilientAandihencetendztotirethe handfof the user-.due

, to theconstant tensingnof.l thehand musclesfin gripping the samerThose made.. of rubberl are relativelyheavyand, ifjmadeoffhard rubber.are

unyielding and tiring. On-the otlfierhand;r if the structure is made ofsoft rubber so as to be more yeldablei itgcan yielditorsidnally so thata heavy gripping pressure becomes essential to prevent thetorsionaldevelopment.A CorkV has been used to meet the requirement oflightness; but it is practically unyielding, thusv` retipiiiringfI ai(heavy tiring gripping Pressure.

The present# invention overcomes these diculties by forming thegripstructures orgfoundation of cork particles in amatrix ofspongerubber. `The presencefof'spong ubber between the cork particles,becauseKof-th ids in theisponge, greatly feducesineweignt it.,strucnrebgow those made entirelyofucork2 rubber-:and proto"y preventltiring `of thed hand in grippingV the Same YThe ,CorkA Particles@i-Sporisenlbber .fratrix resist torsional strains in-the gripasyzpuld bepresent in rubberor spong.e .ri,1bber grip foundations so that a iirm,resilient foundation is provided which enables the\piayer toA accuratelycontrol v thek implementfw-hen a` striking y. force is applied thereby.

The surface of the grip structure. while generally smooth, is nodulateddue to the arrangement of the cork particles in the matrix of rubber.This surface resists slipping of the grip in the hand even when the handis wet with perspiration.

When a leather or other covering material is ZiClaimS. (C1: 2,1 Y

lil

l .l the handle of the tennis racket errug,v r,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view 'talicnn 1along line 3-3 of Fig; 2.

Fig- 4i is. a fragmentary 1ons1u1dinatsecti0nal view of the gripfoundation slioyvnjFig; 3:

Fig. 5 shows an elevationalview oaigolficlub with a grip foundationthereon.

' Fig. 6 is an enlargedview partlyr'i'nl section of the gripportionofrthefgolf club '.cvffig.

In: athletic.V` implements such; as, racketsI of: the

, type: used iny squash@ tennis on badminton; and

golf clubs.A or. A the like instxtlmepts.;` .intended a .for producing,4a.- strikingJ blow Qzifor-cay Weightdistribution: is an importantfactor.- ande it;V is desired toifkeep ,as lowas possibletheiweishtfintheihandle end ofthe implement-aandiatitheisameitmeprovideanimplement with sumcicntlrrigidfglinto enableV the. user toexecute the technique off a particular 912W Wim) ftllrayf.

This isI accomplished ibyf, the: present invention by providing ya.grip` structure Hit' which; mari or may` not.: `rae-covered :byfftheusual-1 cover;4 ofi-leather or the, like, covering material; not.-shown; and which is adapted to be secured to the handleV Ixlioftheiracket; v

The grip -z foundation. of: the presentsinventlon comprises essentially.aipluralitylof cork particles embedded in a, mai-,rirey of; spongerubber.- The voids l in. the, sponge rubber-i1 greatly@ reducer. the

weight 1 of-Y the foundation over those; heretofore i usedn and thesponge-rubber@ between the; cork 'granules provides-1 aVv moresresilient foundation thania'cork foundation. The corklparticlesinthematrix produce stability in the foundation against torsional eiectsbetween the hand and shaft as may be set up at the instant the strikingforce is produced by the implement.

The grip foundation as shown in Figs. 2 to 4 comprises a liner or coreI2 which comprises a spiral wind of fabric tape preferably having theedges overlapped as at I3 and on which is molded a unitary tubularstructure I4 of cork particles and sponge rubber. The grip structure isblown and cured in a mold and secured to the fabric tape core. This tapecore provides a proper base for the cork and sponge rubber matrix.

The mold is usually formed so as to provide the required shape orsurface on the grip structure as itis blown and cured. For example, thegrip structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is generally elliptical for themajor portion of its length and tapers 01T at the front end at I0a andhas an enlarged butt at lb at its other end. In the form shown in Figs.5 and 6, the grip structure 20 which ts over shaft 2| is generally roundin cross-section and tapers for substantially its full length and has anenlarged butt 20a at its upper end.

In carrying out the inventionl the grip structure is preferably formedfrom a composition, the principal ingredients of which are corkparticles of material size as distinguished from dust, rubber, rubberprocessing ingredients and a blowing material. A representativecomposition of such material is as follows:

Materials; Parts by weight Smoke sheet 16.40 Reclaim 6.10 vStearic acid1.50 Calcene 2.70 Fossil flour (mineral) 3.90 Whiting 1.50 Ageritepowder 1.00 White substitute (factice) 1.05 Zinc oxide .75 Bicarbonateof`soda 3.30 Tuads (accel.) .08 D P G (accel.) .08 Aero AC (accel.)(Di-o-tolylguanidine and -zinc chloride); .22 Sulphur .81 Cork particles20.00

out breaking down the cork content, calendered and a strip severed fromthe calendered sheet. rEhe strip is wrapped over a textile coveredmandrel and positioned in a' mold wherein it is blown and iinallyvulcanized into nal grip form. After the grip foundation is molded, itis removed from the mandrel and the foundation then assembled with thehandle of the racket or the shaft of the golf club.

The outer surface of the foundation is generally smooth but has smallnodules thereon formed by the cork particles embedded in the spongerubber. If used uncovered as a grip, these nodules resist slipping ofthe hand on the grip even when the hand is wet with perspiration. If thegrip structure is used as a foundation and l is covered in the usualmanner by a leather or other type of covering material, the surface pro-4 vides means for securely connecting a coverthereto so as to in effectbecome a part thereof.

The grip structure or foundation of the present invention while beingexceedingly light still is of such texture that the racket may begripped without heavy gripping pressure being applied thereon to undulytire a player. The coaction between ,the cork particles and spongerubber therebetween is such that it resists torsional movement of theracket or golf club at the time of impact so that control over theracket or club may be had throughout the playing with the same,irrespective of the point of impact of the ball with the racket or clubhead.

While the foundation is herein disclosed as being formed on a mandrel itis to be understood that the shaft or handle of the implement may beemployed 'as a mandrel and a foundation formed .directly thereon iidesired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the imprpvements may be used without others.

I claim: v

1. A tubula-r unitary hand grip member for handles of athleticimplements comprising a textile tubular base to be secured to the handleand having a body thereon consisting essentially of cork particlesembedded in a matrix of sponge rubber to provide a structure resistantto displacement under torsional strain, said grip having a nodulatednon-slip surface formed by cork particles projecting slightly from saidsurface and having a thin covering of the rubber thereover and said gripbeing characterized by its lightness of weight and resiliency.

2. A tubular unitary hand grip member for handles of athletic implementscomprising a textile tubular base to be secured to the handle and havinga body thereon consisting essentially of cork particles embedded in amatrix of sponge rubber, said matrix of sponge rubber being anchored tothe textile base and the rubber and cork particles being insubstantially equal parts by weight to provide a structure resistant todisplacement under torsional strain.

BENJAMIN J. AXTON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATlEIiS.v PATENTS Great Britain A. D.V1907

